Britain’s rail system is being hampered by a lack of funding and political support, as well as short-term investment decision-making, according to the Civil Engineering Contractors Association (Ceca).
Ceca was responding to the Rail and Urban Transport Review which was undertaken by former Siemens UK CEO Jurgen Maier CBE on behalf of the UK Labour Party.
Ceca UK Rail Director Hannah Rock said: “A UK rail network that delivers in terms of successful infrastructure delivery and achieving a net zero economy will only be achievable if a long-term strategy is established, agreed upon, and stuck to by all political parties.
“It is clear that currently our transport planning system is not fulfilling its potential and is allowing the long-term benefits of rail infrastructure to fall by the wayside of short-termist political expediencies – as we have seen most recently with HS2.
“The certainty of policy and funding required by the UK’s rail network requires a long-term strategy that cannot be delivered within electoral cycles.
Rock went on to say that the Ceca is calling for a “strengthened” National Infrastructure Commission, as well as a high-level “English Transport Strategy” which Ceca hoped would integrate with the developed administrations “to deliver a sustainable long-term future for our transport networks.”
Rock said: “We believe political parties of all stripes across the UK must come together to recognise that Britain’s rail system is a national asset that must be revitalised to meet the needs of business and communities in the 21st century.
“As a nation, we must be willing to adopt radically new funding models, to ensure rail’s status as the backbone of our economy remains fit-for-purpose, and that investment in this key strategic sector unlocks growth, drives connectivity, and delivers value-for-money to taxpayers and rail users across the UK.”
The Department for Transport did not respond to a request for comment.
The National Infrastructure Commission declined to comment.
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